Why Healthy Eating Matters

Regardless of your health goals, what you eat ALWAYS matters. While going to that fast food drive-thru after a long day at work might seem like a good idea at the time, you’re actually doing your body more harm than good – and you can throw your entire system out of whack by eating just one unhealthy meal. By maintaining a healthy diet you can stop yourself from running into a multitude of health problems later in life such as diabetes, obesity and heart disease – the leading cause of death amongst Canadians aside from cancer and respiratory diseases.

Sure, it can be difficult to break those bad eating habits – especially when we live in a world that has food so readily available to us. Of course a juicy burger and greasy French fries are going to seem more appealing than a bowl of salad. The more processed, high-in-carbohydrates and high-in-fat foods that we consume, the more our bodies start to crave and become addicted to them. That being said, the good news is that no one is ever too far-gone to the point where they cannot make changes to what they eat! All you have to do is begin to implement new eating habits to replace the old ones, and all of those cravings that you were having for those juicy burgers and fries will eventually be replaced with cravings for much healthier alternatives.

Now you’re probably wondering how to do that, right? The first course of action in changing your eating habits is to take baby steps. By rushing into it, you are more likely to fail and revert back to those bad habits we were talking about. For example, if you’re craving sweets and are used to eating a chocolate bar or cake for dessert, try swapping them for fruits like strawberries, apples, or blueberries. Fruits contain nutrients that are vital for your overall well-being, and you’ll still be getting that sweetness but from a much healthier source. The same rule applies for those late-night snacks. If you’re used to eating a bag of potato chips, try baking your own, instead! Thanks to social media sites like Pinterest, it’s simple to do, and you’ll avoid all of that trans-fat (which can clog the arteries and lead to heart disease.)

When it comes to making changes to your diet, Dr. Ali Ghahary wants you to remember that the effects won’t happen overnight. If you eat nothing but spinach and kale salads for a week straight, you’re not going to immediately drop 50 lbs. Just like building a house, it’s a process. The results of healthy eating take some time to show, but will ultimately be worth it in the end.